HUD May Send Over $633M to Florida for Disaster Aid

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $6.85 billion in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds to grantees recovering from qualifying 2015, 2016 and 2017 disasters.

Florida is one of the nine states and five local communities that qualify if they adhere to rules HUD created. The total potential money coming into the state for mitigation efforts for 2016 and 2017 storms is $633,485,000. HUD’s 126-page notice explains the program’s regulations.

According to HUD, CDBG-Mitigation funds are an opportunity for grantees to use fund in areas impacted by recent disasters to carry out long-term strategic and high-impact activities that lower disaster risks in future losses.

HUD’s goals for the program

Support data-informed investments in high-impact projects that will reduce risks attributable to natural disasters, with particular focus on repetitive loss of property and critical infrastructure

Build the capacity of states and local governments to comprehensively analyze disaster risks and update hazard mitigation plans through data and community engagement

Support adoption of policies that reflect local and regional priorities with long-lasting effects on community risk reduction, and to include the risk reduction to community lifelines

Maximize the impact of available funds by encouraging leverage of private-public partnerships, and coordination with other federal programs.